On September 19th, 2019, the specialized courts in transitional justice held a 6th hearing in the case of the torture of Rachad Jaidane. Jaidane was arrested when he came to Tunisia for his brother’s wedding in 1993 and was tortured at the Ministry of Interior and subsequently in prison. Defendants in this case include former ministers of interior, Ahmed Friaa and Abdallah Kallel, former head of national security, Ali Siriati, director assistant of the prison where Rachad was held, Belhsan Kilani, and ousted president of Tunisia, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
Also on September 19th, 2019, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali passed away in Saudi Arabia.
Although his death is truly a symbolic reminder of how far Tunisia has come in the last decade, it should be noted that Ben Ali still left without ever apologizing to his victims, without any attempt at reconciliation, without uncovering the truth, without giving back stolen money and without being held accountable for the crimes and violations he committed. He left without facing justice.
